Orocrambus fugitivellus


Orocrambus fugitivellus is a moth in the family Crambidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is classified as critically endangered by the Department of Conservation.

Taxonomy

This species was first described by George Hudson in 1950 using a specimen collected by R. D. Dick in 1939 in an area adjacent to Grays River in the Mackenzie country. Hudson named the species Crambus fugitivellus. In 1975 David Edward Gaskin assigned Crambus fugitivellus to the genus Orocrambus. The type specimen of O. fugitivellus is held in the Hudson collection at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

Description

The larvae of this species have yet to be described. The wingspan of the adult male is 18–19 mm. In appearance the adult male of O. fuitivellus is similar to O. aethonellus but differs in the more abrupt tapering of its forewings and the very oblique termen. The female of the species is brachypterous.

Distribution

Orocrambus fugitivellus is endemic to New Zealand. The Grays River wetlands in the Mackenzie Basin is the only area where this species has been recorded. Male adults of the species have been recorded on wing in February and are active during the day.

Host plants

Although this species inhabits shrub/grasslands its host plants have yet to be discovered.

Conservation status

This species has the "Nationally Critical" conservation status under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. It has been recommended that the type locality of O. fugitivellus, the Grays River wetlands, be protected to help conserve the species.